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15
May 2024
Council to replace grammatically incorrect Harrogate street sign
North Yorkshire Council will replace the controversial St Mary’s Walk sign in Harrogate after it was criticised for not being punctuated correctly.
Cllr Keane Duncan, executive councillor for highways at the council, told a full council meeting that the authority was “not abandoning standards” when it came to street signs.
The move comes after the council last week told the Stray Ferret it will abolish apostrophes from road signs after a new sign was installed on St Mary’s Walk.
The sign, which read ‘St Marys Walk’, sparked concern among local grammar guerrillas – with one taking matters into their own hands and correcting the sign by forming an apostrophe with gaffer tape (see below).
Cllr Duncan told councillors today that the sign would be refitted with its apostrophe in place.
He added that the council would also not introduce “unnecessary abbreviations” of street names.
Cllr Duncan said:
Cllr Michael Schofield, an independent councillor who represents Harlow and St Georges, said he had alerted Cllr Duncan to the issue.
He said:
Cllr Duncan added that the council would introduce a single policy on new street signs for all of North Yorkshire.
The Stray Ferret first reported on the apostrophe story in April.
Our story was later picked up by national media including the BBC and the Guardian but also the New York Times. It even featured on Have I Got News For You last Friday night.
Read more:
- Grammar guerrilla takes Harrogate road sign matters into own hands
- Now council changes ‘Avenue’ to ‘Ave’ on Harrogate road sign
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